Grab your bear can or camp chair, kick your feet up and chew the fat about anything Sierra Nevada related that doesn't quite fit in any of the other forums. Within reason, (and the HST rules and guidelines) this is also an anything goes forum. Tell stories, discuss wilderness issues, music, or whatever else the High Sierra stirs up in your mind.

Ran across this story on Yahoo and thought it has merit; asides the plug for Wells Fargo. This may also introduce a new set of individuals to hiking and the love of the Sierra to continue the lineage. I guess I will add a Semper-Fi even though I did not serve; but know many who do and did.

Thirteen wounded veterans will take part in the Soldiers to Summits: Mission: Mt. Whitney September 2014.

At 14,505 feet, Mt. Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous U.S. By climbing to the summit, these wounded veterans are proving to themselves, and their communities, that taking small steps can result in huge accomplishments.

These veterans have a range of injuries, both physical and psychological. By giving them a goal, Soldiers to Summits helps veterans re-discover their potential. The mountain seems daunting at first, but by putting one foot ahead of the other, the participants learn that they can find a way to go on.

Soldiers to Summits is a program that’s part of No Barriers USA, whose mission is to help veterans overcome barriers and live a life of purpose. Their journey-based expeditions range from one day to three weeks in length, and have taken veterans to Nepal, Ecuador, Peru, the South Pole, and locations all around the U.S.

Wells Fargo is a sponsor of the 2014 Soldiers to Summits mission. “For us, this isn’t just a sponsorship. It is truly an honor,” says Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo Military Affairs program manager.

In addition to the sponsorship, some Wells Fargo team members have pledged to walk 25 miles and raised more than $20,000 on their own for the cause. The husband of one Wells Fargo team member was also selected as a participant in the climb. Read a blog post he penned about lessons he’s already learned from the experience.

In 2012, Wells Fargo pledged $35 million over three years as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting military service members, veterans and their families. The commitment includes donations and support valued at $30 million to qualifying nonprofits that serve military service members and veterans, hiring and mentoring initiatives, customized financial education efforts, and funds for philanthropic donations and sponsorships. Because small is huge.

Watch the film to hear the veterans talk about what the climb means to them.

Meet the soldiers and then follow Wells Fargo on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the climb and the veterans.